In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by erythromycin (the active ingredient contained in E.E.S.-400). In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking erythromycin:

Rare

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

chills

cough

diarrhea

difficulty with swallowing

dizziness

fast heartbeat

hives or welts

joint or muscle pain

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

red, irritated eyes

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

redness of the skin

skin rash

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

tightness in the chest

unusual tiredness or weakness

wheezing

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness

bloating

bloody or cloudy urine

chest pain or discomfort

dark urine

diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody

fainting

fever

general tiredness and weakness

greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine

hearing loss

increased thirst

irregular heartbeat recurrent

irregular or slow heart rate

light-colored stools

nausea and vomiting

pain

swelling of the feet or lower legs

unusual weight loss

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

yellow eyes and skin

Some of the side effects that can occur with erythromycin may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

Cardiovascular

Life-threatening episodes of ventricular tachycardia associated with prolonged QT interval (torsades de pointes) have been reported following IV administration of erythromycin (the active ingredient contained in E.E.S.-400) lactobionate.

QT prolongation has been reported both in otherwise healthy patients and in patients with a history of heart disease or who were on other potentially arrhythmogenic drugs. Most affected patients were receiving erythromycin intravenously. In a recent retrospective study of 278 consecutive patients who had received IV erythromycin lactobionate, 39% of 49 evaluable patients developed moderate to severe delay in ventricular repolarization (QTc interval greater than or equal to 500 msec) during treatment. Of the 278 patients, torsade de pointes was observed in one patient (less than 0.4%).

Arrhythmias and hypotension have been reported following IV administration.

One case of erythromycin-related polymorphous ventricular tachycardia reported in a patient treated for pneumonia was characterized by a normal QT interval.[Ref]

Nervous system

Reversible hearing loss was reported primarily in patients with renal dysfunction and in patients receiving high doses of erythromycin.

Several published reviews have indicated that ototoxicity was associated with erythromycin dosages greater than 4 grams per day, preexisting liver or kidney disease, and advanced age. Recovery generally occurred within two weeks.[Ref]

Hematologic

A case of hemolytic anemia has been reported in a patient with severe underlying diseases and erythromycin-associated hepatitis.[Ref]

Renal

Psychiatric

Local

Slow infusion of diluted erythromycin (the active ingredient contained in E.E.S.-400) (continuously or intermittently over no less than 20 to 60 minutes) almost invariably alleviated venous irritation.[Ref]

Other formulations

Related treatment guides

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This material does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of materials provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.